Sudden hearing loss, as the name suggests, is a rapid, unexplained loss of hearing. This loss may occur immediately or over a few days, but the loss will be noticeable and dramatic. Let’s discuss sudden hearing loss and what you should do if you notice it.
What Sudden Hearing Loss Feels Like
Symptoms of sudden hearing loss can occur in one or both ears, but it frequently only happens in one ear. Symptoms may look like:
- Muffled hearing
- Inability to hear at all, no matter what volume
- Difficulty understanding speech
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in your ear
- Ear popping
- Balance issues or dizziness
- Tinnitus
What Can Cause Sudden Hearing Loss
Sudden hearing loss has a variety of potential causes, and it can happen to anyone. Here are some of the more common causes:
- Exposure to loud noise (acoustic trauma)
- Ear infection
- Head or neck trauma
- Earwax impaction
- Autoimmune disease
- Taking certain medications
- Neurological disorders
- Blood circulation problems
- Tumors
Types of Sudden Hearing Loss
There are two main types of sudden hearing loss: sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) and sudden conductive hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss refers to hearing loss caused by malfunctions in the inner ear or auditory nerve, while conductive hearing loss indicates that the malfunction is in the outer or middle ear. SSHL is more common than sudden conductive hearing loss.
How Sudden Hearing Loss Is Diagnosed
Sudden hearing loss should be treated as a medical emergency, and you should seek help immediately. A hearing health professional will first try to determine if your sudden hearing loss is sensorineural or conductive. They will perform an ear examination, looking for obstructions in the ear, and if they are unable to find anything of that sort, you’ll sit for a hearing test to determine the severity of SSHL. Only about 10% of people diagnosed with SSHL have an identifiable cause.
Treating Sudden Hearing Loss
In some cases, sudden hearing loss is temporary and hearing returns to normal when the issue is cleared up, such as when an earwax blockage is removed or you cease taking a medication that harms your ear tissues. If it is not temporary, however, you’ll need a treatment plan. How sudden hearing loss is treated depends on what type it is and what caused it (if known).
If you need to discuss sudden hearing loss with a hearing health professional, call us today. We at Wilmington Audiology Services are available to answer your questions.